· 5 min read
Why Eco Friendly Ganesh Idols Matter for Hyderabad's Lakes
Every year after the immersion season, Hyderabad's lakes are dredged of idol debris. The problem is not the ritual — it is the material.
Plaster does not dissolve
Plaster of Paris is calcium sulphate hemihydrate. In water it hardens rather than breaks down, so an immersed plaster idol lies on the lake bed largely intact, raising the water's alkalinity and smothering the sediment where aquatic life feeds.
The paint is the sharper problem
Enamel and synthetic colours used for a glossy finish can carry lead, chromium and mercury compounds. These do not settle harmlessly; they enter the food chain through fish and irrigation water drawn downstream.
What clay does instead
River clay is what was dredged out of a water body to begin with. Immersed, it disperses within hours and settles as silt. Water-based colours fade into the water without leaving a metallic residue.
A household that switches from a plaster idol to a clay one removes several kilograms of insoluble waste and a coat of heavy-metal pigment from the lake each year. Multiply that across a colony and the difference is visible at the immersion point itself.
What to ask your idol maker
Ask where the clay is sourced, whether any plaster is used to reinforce the crown or arms, and what the colours are mixed with. A genuine maker will answer all three without hesitation and will let you visit the workshop.
Order a handmade clay Ganesha from our Hyderabad workshop